Display package

ABSTRACT

In a display, a combination of cardboard componants which form slightly oversized compartments for multiple products, and heatshrunk outer wrap about said componants and, of course, about said products in their display positions within the compartments. The portion of the wrap coextensive with any one compartment can be ruptured to provide a removal opening therein, and the peripheral portion which bounds such opening nevertheless remains effectively supported on the cardboard walls bounding such compartment so that the opening is localized to that compartment and does not adversely affect the protective function of the remainder of the wrap.

United States Patent 1191 Roth [ July 30, 1974 1 1 DISPLAY PACKAGE [76] Inventor: Lee J. Roth, 9 Fairbanks Boulevard, Woodbury, NY. 1 1797 22 Filed: Dec. 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 311,132

[52] US. Cl 1206/4533. 206/497, 206/503,

229/D1G. l2

[51] Int. Cl. 365d 65/16,.1365d 85/62 [58] Field 01 Search 206/65 S, 45.33; 229/42, 229/15, 29 D, DIG. 12

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,728,449 12/1955 Rhcinlrunk 229/15 3,014,632 12/1961 Kuchcnbcckcr c 229/42 3,248,036 4/1966 Weiss 229/15 3,348,667 10/1967 Becby A 1 1 1 206/45 33 3,394,865 7/1968 LeBlanc 229/29 D Sargent 206/65 S Thompson ct a1 206/65 F [57] ABSTRACT in a display, a combination of cardboard componants which form slightly oversized compartments for multiple products, and heat-shrunk outer wrap about said componants and, of course, about said products in their display positions within the compartments. The portion of the wrap coextensive with any one compartment can be ruptured to provide a removal opening therein, and the peripheral portion which bounds such opening nevertheless remains effectively supported on the cardboard walls bounding such compartment so that the opening is localized to that compartment and does not adversely affect the protective function of the remainder of the wrap.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTED sum 1 BF 3 FIG. I,

1 DISPLAY PACKAGE The present invention relates generally to product displays, and more particularly to an improved multiple-product display package from which any one or more of the products can be selectively removed therefrom without destroying the package.

Although the within display package is useful for a wide variety of products, it is most advantageously used for such packaged supplies as anti-freeze, oil, and the like, which are usually purchased one unit at a time, i.e., in measured quantities as the need arises. These types of supplies, in the volume per unit which is convenient for turn-over sales are furthermore somewhat heavy and thus require packaging which facilitates their movement, such as from the manufacture or packager to the retailer, and even from the retailers stockroom to his display and sales counters. To promote handling, a number of these packaged supplies should be packaged together in a bottom tray or the like which is conveniently gripped, stacked, and otherwise readily moved. The group packaging of these multiple units, however, must not prevent the sale or removal for use of one or more of the units, while the others remain securely held in place for continued effec tive use of the display package.

Broadly, it is an object to provide an improved display package achieving the conflicting advantages mentioned, and otherwise overcoming shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to use a tight outer wrap to confine the multiple units against movement during transit or the like, and wherein the tightness of said wrap over supportingstructure isolates the separate unsupported wrap portions from each other,- such that the rupturing of any one portion has no effect on the other portions. Thus, a product-removal opening provided in one portion or area of the wrap does not interfere with the proper functioning of the remainder of the wrap.

A display package demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a bottom tray whose area is subdivided by intersecting cardboard walls into compartments which each have an oversized relation to each product displayed therein. There are thus wall edges which frame each compartment, i.e. extend beyond the displayed product therein; a heatshrunk plastic being supported in spanning relation between these edges as a protective covering about each product in its display position within its allotted compartment. These supporting edges are also effective in holding the plastic, so that a removal opening made in the spanning or unsupported portion of the plastic is localized to this area, and the remainder of the plastic is still effectively supported as a protective covering about the other products.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display package, in assembled condition, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the display package after the selective removal of one of the products therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the cardboard components of the package, namely the bottom tray and the intersecting walls bounding the productaccommodating compartments thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the applica tion of a heat-shrunk plastic tube as a protective covering about the products being displayed, which products are illustrated in phantom perspective so as not to obscure structural features of the package; and

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are plan views of the blanks from which the various cardboard components of the package are fabricated, FIG. 5 being that of a transverse wall, FIG. 6 of the central wall, and- FIG. 7 of the bottom tray.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2 wherein there is shown a display package, generally designated 10, demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention. In the display condition of the package 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, multiple, preferrably uniform sized products, individually and collectively designated 12, are dis played in a side-by-side arrangement under a protective transparent outer wrap 14. As may best be appreciated by a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, among other noteworthy aspects of the package 10 is the fact that a portion of the wrap 14 coincident with any one of 'the products 12 can be ruptured to form an access opening 16 therein which, in an obvious manner, permits the selective removal of the product 12 from beneath said opening, while the remainder of the wrap 14 remains intact, i.e., remains in its protective covering relation over the other products 12. Thus, despite the selective removal of one or more of the products 12, the remaining products are still held in place within the package 10 by the remaining portion of the wrap 14, all as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 in conjunction with FIGS. 1, 2, package 10 includes a bottom tray, generally designated 18, preferrably fabricated of cardboard wherein flaps foldable along prescribed fold lines are effective to provide end walls 20 and 22, each having a notch serving as a hand grip 24. Following the assembly of the bottom tray 18, there is disposed in this bottom tray a first cardboard wall, generally designated 26, having end flaps which form vertically oriented end walls 28 and 30 and a central portion extending between these end walls serving as a central wall 32, the latter dividing the rectangular area 34 bounded by the tray 18 into two portions. Further subdividing the tray area 34 are two transversely oriented dividing walls 36 and 38 which are placed in intersecting relation with the central wall 32. Facilitating the engagement of the wall 32 with the walls 36 and 38 are facing'interconnecting notches 40 and 42 on these walls. After the aforesaid assembly, the end walls 28, 30, the central wall 32, and the transverse walls 36 and 38, all cooperate to bound six side-by-side product-accommodating compartments, individually and collectively designated 44, all as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. Positioned in each compartment 44 is a product 12.

Still referring to FIG. 4, it will be particularly noted that the volume of each compartment 44 is oversized in relation to each product 12 such that the walls which bound the compartment present upper or elevated support edges, individually and collectively designated 46 which, of course, bear the same intersecting. relationship as the walls which subdivide'the tray area ,34. There are also vertically oriented edges, individually and collectively designated 48, which, with the edges 46, frame each compartment 44, i.e., these edges 46, 48 extend beyond any product 12 which. is placed within the compartment 44.

Completion of the display package contemplates the placement of a plastic sleeve or tube 50 over the assembled package heretofore described. Specifically,'as illustrated in FIG. 4, tube 50 in its initial condition is of a sufficient size so that one end opening 52 thereof can be pulled in covering relation over the products 12 in their display position within the compartments 44. it will be understood, however, that the plastic of which tube 50 is comprised is of the conventional heat-shrink variety, such that when the assembly is conveyed through a heat zone, the elevated temperature thereof is effective, in a well understood manner, in causing the plastic tube 50 to shrink tightly about its contents. As a consequence, and as is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, the tube end opening 52, as well as the other tube end opening, is drawn tightly about the respective end walls 28 and 30, each such tube end, as exemplified by end 52 being supported along bottom tray edge 54, along upper support edge 46 and along opposite vertical support edges 48, with the hand grip 24 being uncovered and thus exposed for use.

Additionally, and functioning as a protective covering over each of the compartments 44, there is a coextensive portion of the tube 50 which shrinks over said compartments, each such portion of the shrunk plastic having a supported spanning position between upper support edges 46 and also between adjacent vertical edges 48. Thus, when it is desired to selectively remove any one or more of the products 12 from the package 10, the portion of the plastic 50, serving in its heatshrunk condition as the previously noted outer wrap 14, can be provided with the previously noted rupture 16, thereby permitting ready removal of the product 12 from the compartment 44 through the rupture opening 16.

it is to be noted, however, that the rupture opening 16 is confined or localized to the one compartment 44, all as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, by reason of the fact that the plastic which bounds the rupture opening 16 continues to be supported by the previously noted support edges 46 and 48 of the cardboard components which bound each compartment 44. In this manner, the use of package 10 contemplates the selective removal of a product therefrom without distruction of the display package per se.

While package 10 may be assembled with cardboard components other than those illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, these components are preferred and therefore, for completeness sake, a detailed description thereof follows.

To this end, reference should first be made to FIG. 5 illustrating the cardboard blank for the dividing .wall 38 and which, of course, would also be appropriate for the similar dividing wall 36. The blank is generally rectangular in shape, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and includes a medial fold line 56 for bodily folding the blank upon itself to provide a double thickness of the cardboard construction material of which it is made. This double thickness contributes in an obvious manner to rigidity in the wall 38 so that it can resist the crushing force of the heat-shrunk sleeve 50. Also, in the folding of the blank about the fold line 56, the notches 40 are brought into alignment-preparatory to engagement with the cooperating notch 42 of the central wall 32.

Reference should now be made to FIG. 6 illustratin the blank that is used to form the wall structure 26. This blank includes a longitudinally oriented fold line 58 which also permits folding the blank in two to provide a double thickness of construction material. Blank 26 also has transversely oriented fold lines 60 and 6.2 which respectively delineate from the central wall section 32 and the similarly constructed end walls 28 and 30. Each of these end walls, taking end wall 28 by way of example, is formed of four flaps, individually and collectively designated 64, which are separated in pairs by. a central slit 66. Thus, the order of assembly of the wall structure 26 contemplates the longitudinal folding thereof along fold line 58 which creates the double thickness central wall 32, and then the outward folding of each flap 64 of the end walls 28, 30 along the fold lines 60, 62, and finally the folding back of the endpositioned flap 64 along the fold lines 68, 70.

The remaining cardboard component is the bottom tray 18 which is made from the blank illustrated in FIG. 7. The previously noted area 34 of the tray is bounded by side walls 72 and 74, which fold into a position bordering the bottom panel 34 along fold lines 76 and 78. The tray end walls 20, 22 are each preferrably formed as two flaps 80 and 82, the outer flap 80 of which is foldable about fold line 84, following which the double thickness represented by the flaps 80 and 82 are raised perpendicularly of the bottom panel 34 along fold lines 86. In the assembly of the end walls 20, 22, tabs, individually and collectively designated 88, on the side walls 72, 74 are tucked between the end wall flaps 80 and 82. And this assembiy isthen held in place by the insertion of a locking tab 90 on each of the end flaps 80 into a cooperating slit 92.

From the foregoing, it should be readily appreciated that the cardboard components 18, 26 and 38, are readily formed from blanks and are also readily assembled into a display which bounds compartments 44 for the multiple products 12 which may be cans of antifreeze, oil, or other such supplies which are usually brought one unit at a time. The heat-shrunk outer wrap 14 functions effectively to maintain the multiple products in place within the display compartments 44, but not at the expense of preventing the sale, as just noted, of any one of the units 12 separate from the other units without destroying the display 10. This is possible because, as already noted, the portion of the wrap 14 co- 1 extensive with any one compartment 44 can be ruptured to provide a removal opening 16 therein, and the peripheral portion which bounds such opening 16 nonetheless remains effectively supported on the supported surfaces or edges 46, 48 of the cardboard walls which bound each compartment 44.

The strength and integrity of the whole of the display package 10 is always maintained. This enables them to be stacked, one upon the other, without damage. This is especially helpful and important for shipping and for long term storage. The tray 18 at the bottom of each package provides a smooth undersurface for supporting its respective package on the unitary, integral display package 10 therebeneath without relying upon the products 12 contained within the package to provide any load bearing support.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for the visual display and individual dispensing of multiple products comprising a bottom tray, a divider having walls disposed in intersecting relation in said bottom tray defining an arrangement of side-byside product-accommodating three-sided compartments, each said compartment being of oversized in relation to a product placed respectively therein, said walls each having elevated intersecting support edges about each said compartment, and an outer transparent wrap in covering relation by said support edges about the top and remaining sides of the products in position within each said compartment, the portion of said outer wrap coextensive with each compartment being rupturable to gain selective access to said product therein while continuing to engage said support edges to maintain the remainder of said outer wrap other compartments and the products therein.

2. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer wrap is comprised of a shrinkable plastic tube disposed over said bottom tray and over said elevated support edges incident to being shrunk into contact therewith.

3. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 2 wherein said arrangement of intersecting walls includes a first wall oriented centrally between two adjacent rows of said products, and plural second walls supported on said first wall in transverse relation therewith to delineate said side-by-side productaccommodating compartments along said first wall.

4. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 3 wherein each said first and second wall is bodily folded upon itself to provide a double thickness of its construction material so as to provide sufficient rigidity to resist the crushing force of said outer wrap.

secting relation.

intact about said I 

1. A package for the visual display and individual dispensing of multiple products comprising a bottom tray, a divider having walls disposed in intersecting relation in said bottom tray defining an arrangement of side-by-side product-accommodating three-sided compartments, each said compartment being of oversized in relation to a product placed respectively therein, said walls each having elevated intersecting support edges about each said compartment, and an outer transparent wrap in covering relation by said support edges about the top and remaining sideS of the products in position within each said compartment, the portion of said outer wrap coextensive with each compartment being rupturable to gain selective access to said product therein while continuing to engage said support edges to maintain the remainder of said outer wrap intact about said other compartments and the products therein.
 2. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer wrap is comprised of a shrinkable plastic tube disposed over said bottom tray and over said elevated support edges incident to being shrunk into contact therewith.
 3. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 2 wherein said arrangement of intersecting walls includes a first wall oriented centrally between two adjacent rows of said products, and plural second walls supported on said first wall in transverse relation therewith to delineate said side-by-side product-accommodating compartments along said first wall.
 4. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 3 wherein each said first and second wall is bodily folded upon itself to provide a double thickness of its construction material so as to provide sufficient rigidity to resist the crushing force of said outer wrap.
 5. A display package for multiple products as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second walls have cooperating notches for engaging each other in said intersecting relation. 